No, I am not referring to the TV personality although he is someone I always have considered to be amazing. But, that’s another story.

I am referring to my great granddaughter who had her first birthday this past Sunday. Any celebration was delayed until her grandmother gets back in town this coming weekend. Their visits are spaced out but fairly intense. She is the fhe first granchild of my daughter Dawn and the first child of my first grandchild, Jasmine. I am sure that all this information could be trivial to the casual reader.

What is amazing about Charlie Rose is that I am around to see her. Not that it was mathematically such a stretch, but more that I never thought about having great grandchildren. One year olds have never been my strong suit, so I am hoping we’ll reach the day when we will be able to talk.

I do have a concern about the world she is growing up in. It seems to be a mess. It is woefully short on leadership so I am hoping that Charlie Rose is up for being a leader. She has the genes for it and I am sure will be encouraged by her parents and grandparents.

Leadership is learned. It is a function of taking responsibility for yourself and the people around you. It is a matter of integrity. For human relationships it is keeping your word. Doing what you say you will do and cleaning it up when you don’t. It is being authentic. It is seeing what’s so and standing in the face of one’s circumstances and refusing to be less than we say we are.

The ball will very shortly be in your court Charlie Rose. You will make a difference. The world needs you to do that. I love you.